State highway safety director resigns

TALLAHASSEE -- Fred Dickinson, Florida’s long-time highway safety director and a skillful survivor of the capital’s political battles, resigned Wednesday after 16 years on the job.

Dickinson, 54, has been executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles since 1981.

Gov. Charlie Crist and the three elected Cabinet members who oversee the department were interested in seeking a change at the top of the agency, which manages Florida’s driver license offices and oversees the Florida Highway Patrol.

Crist spokeswoman Vivian Myrtetus said the governor “is eager to take the department to an even higher level of customer service and safety on our highways.”

Dickinson is one of a handful of high-ranking state officials who report jointly to the governor and Cabinet.

He sent a four-sentence letter of resignation to Crist and the Cabinet members who will appoint his replacement.

“Having achieved many of the goals I set out to accomplish as executive director, I hereby tender my resignation, effective March 6, 2007,” Dickinson wrote.